Wilson leaves Newcastle on free transfer
Following five injury-disrupted seasons at Newcastle United, Callum Wilson is free to join a new club.
Callum Wilson has confirmed his departure from Newcastle United as a free agent after five years on Tyneside.
Wilson joined Newcastle from Bournemouth for a reported £20m in September 2020, with the Magpies battling to remain in the Premier League in his first two seasons.
However, a 2021 takeover by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and the subsequent appointment of Eddie Howe as manager kickstarted a revival of the Magpies' fortunes, and Wilson's best campaign came as they secured Champions League qualification in 2022-23.
Wilson netted 18 Premier League goals that season and started the EFL Cup final, which Newcastle lost 2-0 to Manchester United.
Two years later, Wilson appeared as a substitute as a 2-0 win over Liverpool in the same competition ended Newcastle's 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy.
Overall, Wilson scored 49 goals in 130 appearances for Newcastle, who failed to agree fresh terms with the 33-year-old ahead of his contract expiring last week.
Wilson wrote in a farewell message on X: "To all you Magpies... It's time to say goodbye after an unbelievable few years in the Toon.
"Thank you for everything. We stood strong together through the highs and some lows to help the club experience new heights.
"I am so proud to have worn the iconic number nine shirt and to have added a little more history to it. Scoring at the Gallowgate End really is as special as they say.
"All good things come to an end, but there's no doubt Newcastle United will always have a place in mine and my family's hearts. Thank you for the memories."
Wilson is reportedly a target for several MLS teams, while Leeds United have also been tipped to move for him ahead of their Premier League return.
He failed to score in 18 Premier League appearances in 2024-25, serving as backup to Alexander Isak as Newcastle finished fifth to secure a Champions League return.
Wilson netted at least eight times in each of his first four seasons with the Magpies, though repeated injury problems meant he never made more than 23 starts in a single campaign, managing that figure in 2020-21.
That was also the only season in which Wilson played more than 2,000 Premier League minutes for Newcastle (2,085), logging 1,388 in 2021-22, 1,885 in 2022-23, 984 in 2023-24 and a mere 357 in 2024-25.
